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The Supreme Court on Friday removed the state imposed ban on the release of Prakash Jha directed film titled AARAKSHAN in the north Indian state Uttar Pradesh.

The bench of justices comprising of Mukundakam Sharma and A.R. Dave lifted the two-month ban that was imposed on the film by Mayawati-led Uttar Pradesh government on the ground that the restriction was against the democratic value of free speech and expression.

Earlier on Aug 12, director Prakash Jha had moved to the Supreme Court as northern states Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and Andhra Pradesh in south banned his film on educational reservations, AARAKSHAN, even as he agreed to edit portions to quell the protests against the film dealing with a politically volatile issue.

"We have agreed to make minor changes following objections. There are certain dialogues and scenes that have been edited," Jha told a press conference in Mumbai on Aug 11.

Jha, however, hinted his dissatisfaction at political parties making an 'issue' of his film.

"When you make a film on social issue everyone has a point of view on it. In Punjab, nobody has even seen the film," he said in that conference.

The Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh decided to ban the movie following the review by a committee formed by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) government.

Despite controversies, the film made a business of around Rs. 58.5 crore in its first week.

Jha, who had previously made films like GANGAJAL and RAAJNEETI on other controversial issues, has created a celluloid saga portraying how the Supreme Court order enforcing a total reservation of 49.5% in higher educational institutions has affected India and its people in his latest film.